Imagine ... if you were a bird flying over New York City.
Central Park wou ld
look like an island of green in the middle of Manhattan. , d If
you took a closer look. you'd see that this 84 3-acre "island" f is
made up of many different habitats: streams and ponds, ' woodlands.
lawns, gardens and fields. These habitats
are the places where birds find food and shelter.
Some birds use several habitats and move freely
among them.This guide shows some common birds
and the habitats in which they are most often seen.
How to Watch Birds Almost 200 different kinds of birds can be
found
in Central Park dunng the year. This guide will
help you identify 32 of them.
LOOK
• Where is the bird? Is 1t on the ground.
in a tree. on the water: or overhead?
• What color is the bird? What parts of
the bird are different colors?
• Is the bird large or small?
• What is the shape and length of the
bird's beak?
• How does the bird move? Does it walk or hop when on the
ground?
Does it flap or soar when flying?
Does it fly in large groups
or by itself?
• Does it have special features, such as a crest on its head? •
Does it have easily seen marks such as red patches
on the wings?
LISTEN
Birds make many sounds- whistles, warbles, trills, rattles.
Since
each bird species' song is different, you can learn to
identify
birds by their songs. You can tell what birds are present
with
out even seeing them ! Listen for the "mew ing" of the Gray
Catbird, or the "caw" of the American Crow.
You'll hear more songs in the spring.This is when male birds
sing to attract a mate and defend their nesting territories.
First
learn the songs of the common birds. and then you 'll be
able
to te ll when a different bird is in the area. Watch singing
birds
to find out what sounds they make. You can also practice by
listening to tapes or CDs of bird songs.
When to Watch Birds TIME OF DAY
Most birds are more active in the early morning and late
after
noon, although there wi ll be some act1v1ty throughout the
day.
TIME OF YEAR
Some birds live in Central Park all year long
whi le others visit only at certain times of the year.
SUMMER
In late spring and summer: many birds in Central
Park build their nests, lay eggs and raise their ',~
young. Watch for young birds learning to fly.
WINTER Some birds, such as Long-eared Owls and
White-throated
Sparrows, only visit the Park during the winter. To see the
sparrows and other songbirds, visit the feeders at Azalea
Pond, which are kept filled by birdwatchers from November
until Apri l.The Reservoir and larger ponds are also good
places to look for Ruddy Ducks and other water birds.
SPRING AND FALL
Each spring. many birds fly from their wintering grounds in
Latin America and the Caribbean to breeding areas as far
north as Canada. Each fall. the birds return. These seasonal
flights are called migrations.They are made 1n search of
food
or good nesting places.
Migrating birds need to find safe places to rest and feed
along
the way. Central Park is one of these important stopover
spots. The best places to find warblers and otJ-er songbirds
in
ear ly May are the Ramble, the North Woods. and the Great
Hill. In fall, visit the Ranger Hawk Watch at Bel·1edere Castle
to see and learn about migrating hawks.
WEATHER CONDITIONS On sunny days. it's easier to see birds if
you
stand with your back to the sun. Cloudy or
rainy days can also be good for birdwatching.
Watch for birds bathing in puddles. Some
storm systems can force migrating birds to land
for shelter until after the storm, so look for birds
after bad weather.
In spr ing, warm w inds bring birds north, so you'll
see more birds when the winds are from the southwest .
In the fall, look for migrating birds, especially hawks,
when the winds are from the northwest. Rain or shine.
remember to dress for the weathed
• Notebook and pencil to record
what you see
• Binoculars if you have them
• Map of Central Park
NON-NATIVE BIRDS
Some 'ofthe birds in city environment. the Park were not origi
Some of these •new• nally found m New arrivals such as YorkCicy
They were EuropeanStarlingsand either brought here MuteSwans,cause
fromother countries or problems for local birds came here fromother
by competingwith parts of the United them for nesting space States
Many of these or food Releasing nonbirdshaveadapted native birds
into the well to life in the wild is not a good idea.
Help Keep Central Park a Home for Birds Central Park provides
important habitats for
nesting and migratory birds, as well as for many
"" other plants and animals.The forests, fields, and
," wetlands 1n the Park provide food and shelter for w
ildlife.
They give us shade in the summer and cleanse our air and
water: They are also wonderful places for us to play.
where we can learn about and enjoy nature.
New York City's parks and natural areas are shared by
plants and animals (includ ing people).To ensure that
our parks stay healthy for all. keep the following in mind:
BE A GOOD BIRDER !
• Watch quiet ly and move slowly
you'll see much more .
• Do not disturb resting birds
or birds on their nests.
• Respect the Park. Do not litter.
remove plants, or disturb animals.
Please stay on paved paths and
do not climb over fences.
• Teach others. Help them learn
about birds.
• Volunteer to help care for Central Park
Go Birdwat ching! For a safe visit to the Park, go birdwatching
with a friend,
classmates, a Ranger, or your family.
for information about bird field tnps, ( lasses, or exhibits,
contact thC' l\mcrinrn l\luscum of Naturnl I I istorv, Central Park
Conscn ,me\', Lu111c1ca11 SOl icty, Nrw York City Audubon Soci
